Chris is a familiar
figure in the village and everyone whose children attended either Wells Hall
Primary or the Middle School must know her. Chris has lived in Great Cornard
for 33 years, coming here with her husband Bill and family when he was asked
to become a key worker in the first factory to open on the Industrial
Estate. Chris saw the development of Great Cornard and remembers
lorries, coming from the power stations, loaded with ash to fill up the
chalk pits which were then all over the area now covered by Maldon Court.

Chris has been a foster
mother for over 20 years and would always take all the children from
families that were having difficulties so that they would not be split up.
She has also been a child minder and anyone calling on Chris would always
see at least one child playing happily in her living room, which overflowed
with toys.

Chris has been helping with the Cornard Guides
for10 years (and would love to have some more volunteers to help). She
has reluctantly just had to give up running the Brownies because she has had
to take on her two small grandchildren permanently.

Throughout her life in Cornard Chris has worked
at the Middle and Wells Hall School, in the kitchens, as a dinner lady, and
as a cleaner. She has also worked with children with special needs at
Wells Hall School. Education of children has always been important to
Chris and she has been on the Parent/Governor Board at both Wells Hall and
Middle Schools and helped to start the Home and School Association at the
Middle School. This is apart from being on the committee of the PTA at
Wells Hall School.

Chris helped at the Summer Playscheme that used
to be run at the Stevenson Centre and is sorry that it has to close this
year due to lack of volunteers. She has her own thoughts about the reason
for this. She has also worked as a carer at the McLellan Retirement
Home and was president of the W.I. for many years.

You may wonder how Chris ever finds time for
herself. The answer seems to be that she doesn’t! Any spare time
is spent collecting for the many good causes she supports.

Sadly, Chris’s husband Bill died 5 years ago but
she has 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. One of the boys is a teacher
and one of the girls a nanny, so obviously her love of children has been
passed on.

If anyone deserves a medal for service to the
community it must be Chris. Long may she have the health and strength
to continue in her work.